MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Early 2011 AirPort/Bluetooth Board Replacement

MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Early 2011

AirPort/Bluetooth Board Replacement
Replace the AirPort/Bluetooth board on your Early 2011 MacBook Pro 15" Unibody.

Written By: Walter Galan

INTRODUCTION
Wireless connectivity issues? Use this guide to replace an inoperative AirPort/Bluetooth
board.

TOOLS:
Phillips #00 Screwdriver (1)
Spudger (1)

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PARTS:
MacBook Pro 15" Unibody (Early
2011) Airport/Bluetooth Bracket (1)
MacBook Pro Unibody (Early
2011/Late 2011/Mid 2012)
Airport/Bluetooth Board (1)

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MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Early 2011 AirPort/Bluetooth Board Replacement

Step 1 Lower Case

Remove the following ten screws

securing the lower case to the upper
case:

Three 13.5 mm (14.1 mm) Phillips

screws.

Seven 3 mm Phillips screws.

Step 2

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Using both hands, lift the lower case

near the vent to pop it off two clips
securing it to the upper case.

Remove the lower case and set it

aside.

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MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Early 2011 AirPort/Bluetooth Board Replacement

Step 3 Battery Connector

For certain repairs (e.g. hard drive), disconnecting the battery connector is not necessary
but it prevents any accidental shorting of electronics on the motherboard. If you do not
disconnect the battery connector, please be careful as parts of the motherboard might be
electrified.

Use the edge of a spudger to pry the battery connector upwards from its socket on the
logic board.

It is useful to pry upward on both short sides of the connector to "walk" it out of its socket.
Step 4

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Bend the battery cable slightly away

from its socket on the logic board so
it does not accidentally connect
itself while you work.

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MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Early 2011 AirPort/Bluetooth Board Replacement

Step 5 AirPort/Bluetooth Board Assembly

Pull the camera cable connector

straight out of its socket on the logic
board.

Pull the cable parallel to the face of

the logic board toward the optical
drive opening.

Step 6

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Use the flat end of a spudger to

carefully pry the AirPort/Bluetooth
ribbon cable up off its socket on the
logic board.

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MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Early 2011 AirPort/Bluetooth Board Replacement

Step 7

Use the tip of a spudger to pry the four antenna connectors up from their sockets on the
AirPort/Bluetooth board.

Step 8

De-route all four antenna cables from their channels in the AirPort/Bluetooth housing.

De-route the camera cable from its channel in the AirPort/Bluetooth housing.

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MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Early 2011 AirPort/Bluetooth Board Replacement

Step 9

Remove the following two screws

securing the AirPort/Bluetooth
assembly to the upper case:

One 8.6 mm Phillips screw

One 3.9 mm Phillips screw

Step 10

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Remove the AirPort/Bluetooth

assembly from the upper case,
minding any cables that may get
caught.

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MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Early 2011 AirPort/Bluetooth Board Replacement

Step 11 AirPort/Bluetooth Board

Peel and remove the piece of EMI tape wrapped around the AirPort/Bluetooth assembly.

Step 12

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the AirPort/Bluetooth cable away from its socket on
the AirPort/Bluetooth board.

Remove the AirPort/Bluetooth cable from the AirPort/Bluetooth assembly.

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MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Early 2011 AirPort/Bluetooth Board Replacement

Step 13

Remove the three Phillips screws securing the AirPort/Bluetooth board to the
AirPort/Bluetooth board housing.

Use the flat end of a spudger to dislodge the AirPort/Bluetooth board from its recess in the
AirPort/Bluetooth board housing.

Step 14

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Remove the AirPort/Bluetooth board

from its aluminum housing.

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MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Early 2011 AirPort/Bluetooth Board Replacement

Step 15

Before securing the

AirPort/Bluetooth bracket to the
upper case, be sure the small tab on
its left edge is inserted into the small
void cut into the black plastic optical
drive opening.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

This document was last generated on 2016-01-07 10:57:35 AM.

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